West Coast USA News

Since Donald Trump was elected as the 45th president of the United States, many Californians are calling for California to secede from the U.S. Secession is not new nor untried in our country, but for solely one state, is to do so realistic or possible?

The California Constitution holds no legal basis for the state to secede from the union.” The U.S. Constitution contains a clause for additional new states the subdivision of existing states requiring Congress to approve it.

Deborah Hoffman, who is the Deputy Press Secretary for Governor Jerry Brown, commented that their offices would not be commenting on California secession at this time. However, there are apparently a number of movements in play, one of which can be researched at YesCalifornia.org, which is petitioning in a campaign for California to leave the union and become an independent territory.

If a citizen’s initiative is a proposed ballot issue in 2018, it would call for a special election for the state to vote for or against secession of California from the United States. This must not be totally surprising, as all three West Coast states voted for Hillary Clinton. Understandably, social media will have many voices commenting on this proposed future action with such contention as, “I no longer will refer to myself as an American, I am a Californian.” #calexit, just one example of the seriousness of the exiting of the union.

There has in the recent past been some discussion of a mindset of Northern California wanting to become separated from Southern California, but no movements have been identified to date. #calexit has come into being based on the surprise and upset of our recent election of Trump as President…it was not expected! Hilary advocates were absolutely positive that she would win, that she had to win, or at least that Trump must not win.

The next few days and months will be interesting for some, fearful for others; rioters are continuing their non-violent, and, unfortunate violent protests; we should only be vigilant, informed, but remain hopeful.